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VicTouch VicTouch is the optional Volgistics module used to provide interactive on-site touch screen kiosks for volunteers. Among other features, VicTouch provides a time-clock function volunteers can use to check-in and out when they arrive and depart. VicTouch kiosks are ideal for organizations where volunteers serve primarily onsite at a specific facility or campus. If this describes your organization - and you track volunteer hours - VicTouch is a great solution. It can eliminate manual hour record keeping altogether and give you a precise record of which volunteers were onsite, when. You don’t need to use VicTouch to use Volgistics. If your volunteer program is less centralized – or you don’t want to use interactive kiosks – simply use Volgistics without the optional VicTouch module (you can still collect and track volunteer hours in Volgistics without VicTouch). A volunteer must be in your Volgistics database before they can use VicTouch. What you need to use VicTouch VicTouch is designed for use at a computer that has a touch screen monitor attached to it. Touch screen monitors enable volunteers to interact without having to use a keyboard or a mouse, so it’s great even for people who are not familiar with computers. It has a very simple, instructive interface so just about anyone with very basic English skills can use the system. While VicTouch is designed to work at a touch screen equipped computer, you can run VicTouch at a regular computer with a regular monitor for testing or evaluation purposes. When you install VicTouch at a regular computer with a regular monitor, you interact using your mouse rather than touching the screen as you would if a touch screen monitor were attached. The computer(s) you use to run VicTouch must have an Internet connection. Like Volgistics, VicTouch is a hosted application that uses the Internet to connect to your Volgistics database. As long as your VicTouch computer has a connection to the Internet, it does not need to be connected to your organization’s internal network (except if the route to the Internet is through your internal network). You can run VicTouch at as many locations as you'd like, as long as each station has a PC with an internet connection. If you have more than one VicTouch station, Volunteers can sign-in at one station, and sign-out at another. Kiosks, or specially built cabinets or pedestals used to hold the touch screen monitor and the PC it is attached to, are not required for the VicTouch station, but they do offer good degree security when the station is located in an unattended public area. When a kiosk is not used, VicTouch workstations are often located at information desks, on a counter in the volunteer office, or on tables or shelves near the location(s) where volunteers arrive and depart. In some installations where security is a concern, the VicTouch computer and monitor are secured to a counter or desktop with security cables or small, vented PC cabinets instead of inside a kiosk. Set up a VicTouch computer Step-by-step instructions for setting up a VicTouch computer appear in help topic 8271. When you’re setting-up VicTouch at a touch screen equipped computer, it’s best to configure the web browser so it uses “kiosk mode." In kiosk mode the browser displays VicTouch without any of typical operating system controls, such as borders, title bars, menus, and tool bars. Removing these controls prevents visitors from going to other web sites, or easily closing the browser window. Help topic 8270 explains how to run Microsoft Internet Explorer in kiosk mode. Even with kiosk mode turned on, it’s a good idea for you or your organization’s IT department to ‘lock down’ the VicTouch computer, especially if it’s located in a public area. Locking-down a computer prevents people from accessing your network or changing the way the computer is setup. The specific steps for ‘locking down’ a computer vary with different operating systems and network configurations, so providing instructions on how to do this is beyond the scope of this Guide; however you’re organization’s IT department or computer support person should be able to do this. How VicTouch works You can customize many VicTouch features, such as adding your own logo graphic; customizing the instructions on each screen; and tailoring the way volunteers choose the assignment they have come to perform. Here’s what a typical sign-in process might look to a volunteer: First, volunteers enter their PIN number (you can learn more about PIN numbers in Help Topic 2152):  Next, volunteers select what they want to do (i.e. "Sign-in")...  When volunteers sign-in, they can be asked to choose the Assignment they have come to perform. This enables Volgistics to track volunteer service according to assignment. Help Topic 2226 explains how to control which assignments a volunteer can choose when they sign-in.  Fincally, volunteers have a chance to confirm their selections...  Once they confirm their selections a volunteer is officially signed in. Volunteers should sign-out at VicTouch using a similar procedure at the end of their duty. As soon as a volunteer signs-out, Volgistics automatically adds a service record for them showing their times in and out, the assignment they served in (if they selected one when they signed-in) and the number of hours they performed. You’ll see these entries on the Service tab in the volunteer’s record. VicTouch also includes features for detecting if a volunteer who signed-in has forgotten to sign-out. This feature will automatically sign-out these volunteers after a pre-set interval. Help Topic 2214 explains how to setup this feature. You can optionally audit service entries posted for volunteers who forget to sign-out. See Help Topic 1072 to learn more about auditing service entries. Messaging features enable you to post messages for individual volunteers, all volunteers, or specific groups of volunteers. Volunteers receive your messages when they check-in or out.  You also have the option of providing volunteers with a way to view their service and the volunteer schedule at the VicTouch kiosk. When viewing their service history, volunteers can see all of their recorded volunteer service by year; and they can open any year to see their detailed service records for that year. Volunteer cumulative hours and years of service can also be displayed.  It’s often motivating for volunteers to see their own time and service contributions accumulate each time they check-in or out. If you use the Volgistics scheduling features, volunteers can check their schedules at the VicTouch station; and – if you choose – they can even sign-up for vacant scheduling openings or remove themselves from the schedule right at VicTouch. Volunteers can even email themselves a copy of their monthly schedule whenever they choose.  Shutting-down VicTouch If you run VicTouch in the web browser’s kiosk mode as recommended, you’ll notice that the usual operating system controls for minimizing or closing the VicTouch application are not visible on the screen. If the computer where VicTouch is used has not been locked-down, and a keyboard is attached, you can close the browser window where VicTouch is running by pressing ALT-F4 (the ALT key and the F4 key at the same time) on the keyboard. Help Topic 2283 explains more about shutting-down VicTouch.
Let’s review
Related Help Help Topic 8271 - Setup a VicTouch Computer Help Topic 8270 - Using Internet Explorer’s Kiosk Mode Help Topic 2152 - Using Volunteer Numbers Help Topic 2214 - VicTouch Ground Gules Help Topic 1072 - Auditing Vic Service Entries Help Topic 2326 - Greeting Cards Help Topic 2283 - Shutting-down VicTouch Help Topic 2307 - Who's Here Help Topic 2166 - How do I change the service level on my account? Help Topic 1184 - Getting Started with VicTouch Help Topic 2534 - VicNet and VicTouch Trials |
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Printable view Help topic 3021 Added or revised 04-03-2009 |